During his period of office, the STUC was heavily involved in a range of activities of an educational and cultural nature.
He spent six years as Chair of SCOTBEC and, with the Glasgow Trades Council, a residential college was established at Treesbank.
Married to Alice, Jimmy Milne was also a great music lover, who consciously spread the STUC's influence widely in education and the arts and received an honorary doctorate from Heriot Watt University for such work.
The Scottish National Orchestra performed a specially commissioned overture, `Sunset Song', by William Sweeney on his retirement in a similar gesture.
Over a thousand people attended his funeral, including the then Shadow Scottish Secretary, Donald Dewar, and many other prominent individuals from all walks of life.